In October 1887 the writer and translator Lafcadio Hearn sailed from New York to Martinique, where he fell under the spell of the island and its people and stayed for two years. As he writes in this evocative and lyrical account, he found Martinique in its post-slavery period to be an exotic fusion of European, African, and Asian influences—a Creole society par excellence. First published in 1890, the book also offers the most complete evocation of the doomed city of Saint Pierre, "Paris of the Antilles," devastated 12 years later in one of the world's worst volcanic eruptions.

"Greek-born journalist, translator, and world traveler [Lafcadio] Hearn (1850–1904), who remains best known for his Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan and Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation, has vibrantly reported his travels in French-ruled Martinique during 1887–89. Consisting of 'A Midsummer Trip to the Tropics,' 12 sketches of Martinique life, a folktale, several short folk music scores, and period illustrations, this poetic account provides views of much that has now disappeared. Hearn's unusual perception of light and color as well as his detailed vintage prose both render a unique and subtle portrayal of the various peoples of Martinique."—Library Journal